Coordination

Keywords

Observatory of Ibero-American Museums

Since 2012, the OIM has been promoting research and improving the management of museum institutions and processes in the region.

It works on two fronts: driving synergies to promote the participation of member countries and developing initiatives for the production of reliable and up-to-date information, building knowledge in the museum sector in Ibero-America.

With a three-step methodology (prior diagnosis to understand the state of the issue, the definition of a common conceptual framework and development of knowledge tools), the OIM directed its first efforts to understand two fundamental aspects of the sector: the institutions of the region and its audiences.

The work resulted in the production of five major projects, generating publications, courses and the Register of Ibero-American Museums (RMI), a repository of data on the museological outlook of 17 countries. In the medium term, the plans for the RMI are to contemplate the more than nine thousand museums that make up the museological heritage of all 22 Ibero-American countries.

The Observatory of Ibero-American Museums relies on a Technical Panel featuring a representative and technical leader of 12 of the 13 member countries of the Ibermuseums Program. At the same time, a Consultative Council, composed of representatives of the Ibero-American countries that are not part of the Ibermuseums, also actively contributes to the execution of OIM projects.

Projects

Herramienta de autodiagnóstico de accesibilidad para museos

The Register of Ibero-American Museums

A platform created to facilitate access to information about more than 9,000 museums located in the 22 countries of Ibero-America. A source of collaboratively developed data for references and research.

Studies of Ibero-American Museum Audiences

In 2014, a virtual working group with representatives from each Ibero-American country conducted research with different audiences to begin to understand the level of development of their museum networks.

Museum Audience Data Collection System

The system responds to museums' need for tools to get to know its visitors. This project involves conducting public studies of Ibero-American museums as a first step towards establishing common methodologies and concepts.

Panorama of museums in Ibero-America

The realities of the museum sector in the 22 countries of Ibero-America differ greatly. To get to know this diversity, the Ibero-American Observatory of Museums has thoroughly investigated the panorama of museums in the region.

Other projects

10 years of Ibermuseums

6 years of IOM

22 countries involved
+ 7657 registered museums
+ 5 publications

Why Ibermuseums?

“The Declaration of Salvador was a renewal of the dreams of Ibero-American museology that was not innocent and very social. This is why for its preamble we chose an excerpt from Quixote, defining museums as a knight-errant braving deserts, solitudes, crossroads, jungles and mountains while seeking dangerous adventures, eventually achieving for them happy and fortunate endings’. Ten years later, we can say that the museums of Ibero-America have honoured the memory of Cervantes, following his lessons, both well-known and quaint. We said we would do it, and did it.”

Santiago Palomero (Spain)
Former Director of the Sefardi Museum of Toledo

Since 2007, we have been working together to strengthen Ibero-American museums in three key areas: promoting the importance of museological heritage; highlighting the need to offer training and ensure the mobility of professionals working at these institutions; and facilitating the production, circulation and exchange of knowledge through liaising and creating networks to promote public policies for the sector.